National Herald: Swamy seeks to submit ‘fresh list’ of witnesses

New Delhi : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy on Saturday sought more time to submit a fresh list of witnesses in the National Herald case.

The fresh list includes M. L. Bohra and Bhupender Singh Huda, who have been named as accused in a similar matter in which an FIR has been filed by the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate has already questioned them.

“I want to make an additional list of witnesses. There is another investigation going on about the land in question in my matter. ED has questioned Mr. Vohra and Mr. Hooda in the National Herald case. Seek time to argue the matter once I have filed the list of witnesses,” Swamy told the court.

However, the respondent said, “I strongly oppose this. He (Swamy) is now in history. We also want to be in history by cross examining him. Let him come into the witness box.”

“Earlier also he (Swamy) said there are three probes here and there but they are not connected in any way to this case. Any development after 2014 is not relevant to this case. The only thing is that he doesn’t want to come in the witness box. Nothing else,” the respondent added.

Answering to which Swamy said, “If they are going to oppose then I should get an opportunity to oppose their opposition. Allow all the witnesses I’ve mentioned to be present. Allow me to argue.”

Earlier, all the accused in the case filed their reply in the court and opposed Swamy’s plea seeking summoning of witnesses.

Swamy’s counsel had submitted a list of witnesses and other evidences against the accused. The court had previously dismissed Swamy’s plea, seeking documents related to the case against Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi along with other accused.

Swamy had earlier sought documents and ledger books maintained by the Congress and Associated Journals Limited (AJL). Swamy had filed an application in 2012, accusing Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and others associated with the Congress of conspiring to cheat in a land deal.

In his complaint, Swamy had alleged that the Congress granted an interest-free loan of Rs. 90.25 crore to the AJL, owner of the National Herald newspaper, established by Jawaharlal Nehru, which was either not repaid or repaid in case, which was in violation of Section 269T of the Income Tax Act, 1961.

In August, the court issued notices to Sonia, Rahul and five others on Swamy’s application seeking presentation of certain documents from Associated Journals Pvt. Ltd (AJL) and Indian National Congress (INC) in connection with the National Herald case. (ANI)